Captain's Update - March 2017

Firstly this month, apologies to Angela for omitting her run at Canons Park on the 25th from February's results (rectified herewith).

So, what were we up to in March? Well, with the Spring marathons almost upon us, it proved to be another busy month for the club with members competing in three half marathons, three 10ks., two twenty milers, and the Kingston Breakfast Run, as well as fulfilling our usual quota of Parkruns, with four new club records being set in the process.

Competitively, the month started with John soaking up the sun with a 10k. in Cyprus on the 5th whilst the Smyths enjoyed a 'family bonding' session over the same distance at Regents Park, I headed off to Hertfordshire for the Berkhamsted Half Marathon, and Victor and David took on the Thames Riverside 20. The following weekend saw yours truly heading up to Ruislip for the Finchley 20, whilst the majority of our 'resources' were deployed at the North London half. Peter Nagy was then in action at the Hampton Court Palace Half Marathon on the 19th, before Mary and Tony took to the byways of Kingston on the 26th, the month ending with Tony stretched his legs at the Civil Service Capital Challenge 10k. the following Wednesday.

Came as something of a shock to break my club MV60 half marathon record at Berkhamsted, as I was basically using the race as a training run for Finchley. Was just aiming to get under two hours on what was a near perfect day for running (would definitely recommend Berkhamsted if you haven't tried it before as long as you don't mind a hill or two!).As it happens, mine wasn't the only club record on the day, Victor registering 2.53.30 to set an MV35 benchmark at the Thames Riverside 20.

Turned out to be three records in two weeks as I slid just under the three hour mark at Ruislip, though how long I hold it basically depends on when Tony can find a twenty miler that takes his fancy! Meanwhile, while I was 'slaving away' in Ruislip, Gavin was leading our septet home at the North London half in a handy 1.19.36. Impressive runs also (in particular) from Peter and Yvonne, both inside two hours, with Yvonne winning her age catagory. As well as our 'magnificent seven' on course, we also had an impressive presence 'behind the scenes', with no fewer than eleven members marshalling (apologies for not name checking you all individually), a great effort all round.

On the Parkrun front, Tony set our fourth club record of the month, clocking 22.40 at Gladstone Park on the 18th to knock fifteen seconds off my previous MV60 mark (set on a much flatter course at Hyde Park!). As well as the 'old favourites' (Canons Park, Gadebridge and Harrow), March also saw Rickmansworth adding it's name to the roster, Victor representing the club at the inaugural run on the 4th (a run with a couple of names familiar to Gladstone Park regulars at the front of the field with Glen Turner finishing just ahead of Johnny Suttle). No question as to our most exotic location of the month however, with Victor taking in the South Bank Parkrun in Brisbane on his travels. For the records, Gladstone Park's four runs for the month saw an average attendance of 177, with Graham making his debut at the venue on the 25th and 'strolling round' in a time of 19.37 for a top ten finish to show his lads (Matthew (22.11) and Ryan (23.18) how it's done. Incidentally, March also saw us pass 1,600 runs in NW10.

Looking forward, just a reminder of one or two upcoming events:

Tuesday 18th April: Club AGM, and the first club handicap race of the year.